Week 14 - Measuring behaviour Pt2

Measuring Animal Physiology, Behaviour and Welfare - Part 2

Instructor Information

• Name: Dr. Emma Dunston-Clarke

• Course Code: VET101

• Institution: Murdoch University

Acknowledgement of Country

• Location: Murdoch University situated on the lands of the Whadjuk and Binjareb Noongar people.

• Cultural Significance: The Noongar people possess an enduring culture; we pay our respects to their leaders, both past and present.

• Historical Context: The Boodjar (Country) has been a place of learning for thousands of years, which Murdoch University is proud to uphold.

• CRICOS Code: 00125

• TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12163 (Australian University)

Learning Objectives

1. Cognitive Bias Test

   • Explain what a cognitive bias test is.

2. Motivation Test

   • Explain what a motivation test is.

3. Preference Test

   • Explain what a preference test is.

4. Design a Test

   • Design and describe a motivation or preference test based on a presented problem/research question.

Cognitive Bias

• Definition of Cognition:

  • Cognition is the mental action of acquiring information and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.

• Definition of Cognitive Bias:

  • A cognitive bias is a systematic thought process in which an animal’s previous experiences, temperament, and emotional state influence how it perceives and responds to a stimulus.

• Glass Half Full/Half Empty Paradigm:

  • An illustrative concept highlighting varied interpretations of the same situation based on one's outlook (optimistic vs pessimistic).

• Welfare State Impact:

  • A better welfare state correlates with more optimistic judgments from animals. Conversely, stressful environments, fear-inducing conditions, or chemically imbalanced states lead to more pessimistic judgments.

Types of Cognitive Bias

1. Choice-Supportive Bias:

   • When making a choice, individuals tend to have a positive judgment about that choice despite its flaws (e.g., believing one’s pet is perfect despite negative behaviors).

2. Clustering Illusion:

   • The tendency to perceive patterns in random events; associated with gambling falls where players believe outcomes are somehow influenced by past results.

3. Confirmation Bias:

   • A tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs, complicating rational discussion, such as on climate change.

4. Conservatism Bias:

   • Preference for prior evidence over new information; exemplified by the historical resistance to the scientific understanding of the Earth’s shape.

5. Information Bias:

   • The inclination to seek further information even when it is not necessary for decision-making; often results in less accurate judgments when faced with excessive information.

6. Ostrich Effect:

   • The act of ignoring negative information (akin to an ostrich burying its head) particularly noted in financial behavior during downturns.

7. Outcome Bias:

   • Judging a decision based on its outcome rather than the quality of the decision-making process itself.

8. Overconfidence:

   • An excessive belief in one’s abilities often leads to riskier behavior, especially prevalent among experts.

Research Reference

• Clegg, I.L.K. (2018). Cognitive Bias in Zoo Animals: An Optimistic Outlook for Welfare Assessment. Animals, 8(7), DOI: 10.3390/ani8070104.

Cognitive Bias Tests

• Species Involved: Tests are performed across various species such as rats, dogs, rhesus macaques, sheep, chickens, starlings, and honeybees.

• Factors Causing Bias:

  • Emotions, individual motivations, social pressures, and limitations in processing information.

• Importance:

  • Provides insights on animal emotional states, reveals how environmental and social conditions affect mental states, and offers clues to species' evolution.

• Test Mechanism:

  • Judgement bias measures how an animal responds to different stimuli based on knowledge of both positive and negative cues.

Example of a Cognitive Bias Test

• Initial Test Design:

  • Rats were trained to respond to different sound frequencies, one correlating with food reward and the other with a negative stimulus.

  • Housing Conditions: Rats were housed either in a mildly stressful or a predictable environment.

  • Findings: Rats in the unpredictable housing showed fewer positive responses to stimuli.

    • References for Study:

    • Harding, E.J., Paul, E.S., & Mendl, M. (2004). Cognitive bias and affective state. Nature, 427, 312.

    • Rygula, R., et al. (2015). Effects of optimism on motivation in rats. Frontiers of optimism on motivation in rats, 9, 32.

Summary Table of Judgement Bias Studies

• References for Table: Mendl et al. (2009). Cognitive bias as an indicator of animal emotion and welfare: emerging evidence and underlying mechanisms. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 118(3-4), 161-181.

Motivation and Preference Tests

• Preference Test:

  • Method involves giving animals a choice between two different environments/resources and recording their preference.

  • Observations can include preferences for temperature, lighting, and environment (pasture vs feedlot).

• Motivation:

  • Investigates how and why animals engage in activities or responses.

  • Considers internal (biological needs) and external (environmental stimuli) factors.

  • Assesses how hard an animal will work to achieve its preferences.

• Applications:

  • Insights from these tests can lead to improvements in housing design and handling equipment, crucial for reducing stress in animals.

Preference Test Studies

1. Pig Access to Substrates:

   • Study by Beattie et al. (1998) compared 7 substrates: concrete, mushroom compost, peat, sand, sawdust, straw, and wood bark.

   • Results: Peat, mushroom compost, and sawdust are most preferred substrates.

2. Beef Cattle Preferences:

   • Study by Lee et al. (2013) observed preferences between feedlot and pasture.

   • Findings showed feedlot was preferred during peak feeding times, whereas pasture was preferred for resting.

Motivation Test Examples

1. Chickens: Preference for larger cages or for access to feed and water.

2. Dairy Cattle: Preference for access to bedding over high grain feed.

Further Reading

• Harding, E.J., Paul, E.S., & Mendl, M. (2004). Cognitive bias and affective state. Nature, 427, 312.

• Clegg, I.L.K. (2018). Cognitive Bias in Zoo Animals: An Optimistic Outlook for Welfare Assessment. Animals, 8, DOI: 10.3390/ani8070104.

• Jensen et al. (2008). Using motivation tests to assess ethological needs and preferences. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 114(4), 340-356. Link

• Rygula, R., et al. (2015). Effects of optimism on motivation in rats. Frontiers of optimism on motivation in rats, 9, 32.

• Mendl, M., et al. (2009). Cognitive bias as an indicator of animal emotion and welfare: emerging evidence and underlying mechanisms. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 118(3-4), 161-181. Link

Conclusion

• Questions: For further questions or clarifications, please refer to the VET101 forum or contact Dr. Emma Dunston-Clarke via email: Emma.Dunston@murdoch.edu.au.

• Final thoughts on the importance of understanding animal physiology, behaviour, and welfare: this knowledge is critical for fostering improved animal care and management practices.

Acknowledgments

• Ngala kwop biddi. Building a brighter future, together.

• Murdoch University